Scratchrat

I'm truly hopeful things will start to ease soon. The next lockdown review is in 2 weeks and is expected to announce the ability for restaurants, bars and such to reopen. Shops are due to start reopening next week.

I've read articles that suggest that contrary to popular belief (considering cruise ships reputation with noro) a cruise ship is likely to be one of the safer vacation spots as it's easier to spread people out on a big ship.

We shall see!

3 minutes ago, Harry Peterson said:

Same menus.  Same environment.  Just a question of whether you choose to have a fixed time every night, with the same dining companions and the same serving staff, or freedom to dine at any time, with different people and different serving staff.

 

We much prefer the freedom to pick a convenient time each night, and enjoy meeting different people - though I do see the advantage of having the same serving staff.

I'm more meaning on iona, considering she has 4 MDR' and all are Freedom dining.  Is it the same no matter where you go?

20 hours ago, zap99 said:

Same here,rarely more than 30mins. We also like the freedom of deciding where we want to eat, not just the time.

I'm assuming all of the MDR's serve the same menu? So deciding where is more an aesthetic thing?

3 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

I think you might find that the hot weather was a far bigger influence than poor old Dominic.

I think it matters little WHAT influenced people. What matters is that people felt the need to ignore the advice. Let's hope that we can recover swiftly and get back to sailing with minimal disruptions. I doubt any of us want a cruise where everyone has to stay away from each other, wear masks and be served food through screens!

5 minutes ago, AndyMichelle said:

Yes, don't let them dictate, then go to freedom when you are hungry and possibly wait for an hour. 😊

Each to their own. 

I know it works for many but the only time we tried it we hated it. 

The queues from 5 o clock and other passengers telling you they always go at 8 and have no problem tell you there isn't much freedom in it. 

I will miss getting to know my dining companions and waiters, this is a big part of the holiday for us. 

Lets hope Iona has it better organised. 

Andy 

I've only sailed Carnival so far and their system is pretty good.

You get to the dining room, check in with the maitre'd and ask for a table of 2, they give you a rough estimate for when to be back (some ships give you a pager that buzzes when the table is ready) then you go away, enjoy the ship and come back to be seated. 

We loved it as it meant we could go whenever it was quiet, or whenever it fit in to our day. We're younger than the average cruise couple but not heavy drink/party types so we're more into the broadway style shows than we are the discos/piano shows and so we'd either grab dinner before the show or after! It works for us well.

For those who come on a cruise to meet new friends, timed dining is great, I've heard many stories of couples and families who have made long term friendships out of dinner companions.

1 minute ago, terrierjohn said:

I believe that Arnold Donald the Carnival President has already scotched that in a recent interview with Cruise Critic, probably late autumn at the earliest.

Ah yes I just saw the new date is August 1st aim!

Fingers crossed 🙂

I mean with everyone seemingly ignoring the lockdown now anyway, I think the government are likely to give up trying to protect people soon!

4 minutes ago, Denarius said:

Sadly, I have come around to the view that cruising will not resume until social distancing is no longer required. I cannot see how a ship could operate under the current requirements and be either profitable or an enjoyable experience to passengers.

The word on the grapevine is that the cruise lines have already been making the changes needed to conform to social distancing. They are just waiting on the green light. Carnival are sailing in 5 weeks time.

Just now, Son of Anarchy said:

Haven't really thought about it to be honest.  Just glad to be getting away. Reduced capacity and social distancing would be interesting.  I wonder whether the buffet will either operate under noro conditions, or not open at all. And now you've got me thinking about, I wonder whether the MDRs will switch to Club dining only.  There was a report that on Arcadia's last leg of her worldie, freedom dining was removed and smaller numbers on tables for Club dining.

 

Hey ho, find out when we get there!

My hope is that instead of drastically changing everything, they simply reduce number of cabins on sale, but they need the money I suppose!

I'd really not want to have club dining. I'm not much for socialising with people I don't know, though I am aware a lot of people love this option.

We always use the other cruise lines equivalent of Freedom dining as it just works for us. We like to be at dinner together, not with a group.

I'm gonna guess that buffet will be served to you rather than self serve. You line up, 2m apart, get your food served onto your plate and then handed back. Like school dinners!

We just booked our first P&O cruise on Iona so this has Freedom only, I would never want timed dining as I simply don't like having my day scheduled around a meal, I wouldn't want to feel rushed doing other things or to have to miss out on something just because it's dinner time.

Holiday isn't the time for scheduling, that's what work is for 😄

1 minute ago, Son of Anarchy said:

We're on that as well.  Might turn out to be the maiden!

What are your thoughts on how things are going to be changed by then?

I'm imagining less capacity on the ship, changes to buffets?

I've only sailed on Carnival so far and have 60 sailing days with them.

From what I can gather, going by the research for my first P&O cruise, the biggest difference is that Carnival are much more casual. Nobody is going to throw a fit if you're wearing trainers on a Carnival ship, unless it's elegant night. You're free to pretty much be yourself. 

Some people may think this means it's "low brow" but as someone who regularly engages with celebrities as part of my work, I'll tell you that people with real money and real influence don't go round in suit and tie, CEO's wear jeans and trainers. Those wearing smart clothes all the time are doing so to LOOK rich and influencial, you see it all the time in the top restaurants in London, the suited ones never order the good wine 😉

Carnival's food is simpler, the main dining rooms provide relatively harmless food, nothing you'd be wowed by potentially but I've never had a dinner I've been unsatisfied with. They provide the menu outside the MDR the morning of the day and so if you dont like the look of it, you can decide to make other arrangements, for example some of their ships have a great italian restaurant called Cucina del Capitano which is only a $12 cover charge and you literally get so much food you roll out!

The experience of any cruise is truly down to you and what you make of it. If you don't like being around people having a good time, partying and being with their families, Carnival is likely to be a no-go. For me? I'm booked on Carnival Legend from Dover next June for a 12 day cruise to Iceland and can't wait! I'm also booked on my first P&O cruise this December on Iona.

My worries are that people are going to be very snooty on this cruise but I'm hoping I'll be pleasantly surprised. I do like dressing up nicely but I don't like it to feel forced.

We are on GO28 and very excited 🙂

Looking pretty! Let's just hope cruising can safely resume shortly 🙂

In the other post about this, the OP said that John Heald indicated the name was seven letters long and it did NOT have a "Z" in it...which if true would eliminate Horizon.

 

My guess is Carnival Compass.

 

Misty

I ended up sat at the table next to John and Jacinta in the Steakhouse last week on Vista and he told me it was "Seven letters and ending with an N" so Horizon sounds good.

It seems like these day only have a ship in Europe for its inaugural season.

 

Take a good look at Princess IMHO does a great job there.

We're only wanting to take Carnival as we are close to reaching Platinum now!

Will Carnival bring a ship over to Europe next year like it did with the Legend?

I'd love to do a nice long cruise again like we just did on the Vista :)

Of course, everyone is different, but...

 

I can go to an IMAX theatre any time I desire.

But I cruise only a few days a year and there are many things unique to cruising that I can only do during those few days.

So I shall spend my cruise days doing things unique to cruising and save the things I can do at home for when I am back home.

You can drink cocktails and eat fine dinners at home too. Will you be giving those things up to cruise?

John Heald mentioned in a video for dining that you need to go to the Java Cafe on deck 5 and get a buzzer there.

 

I cant figure out why they decided to do this. I have a feeling, with enough complaints, it will eventually be changed (but I could be wrong).

Why would there be complaints? It's a very efficient system.

By checking in on deck 5 to get your buzzer, you reduce the bottleneck at the restaurant caused by people going to check in and leave again so all the people in line at the restaurant are already ready to be seated.

Perfect system!

I hope this isn't a dumb question but how will I know if I'm in front of an independent cash machine vs a cash machine belonging to a bank?

 

 

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Not a dumb question at all. Before you put the card in the machine, it will tell you "This machine will charge X amount for a cash withdrawal" if its independant. If it's a bank one it will say FREE on it :)

I don't like the pricing. But that just means, and is my choice, I will not be visiting this I Max. It has become common practice anymore to upsell all of things on cruises. It is up to each person if they want to do it or go to it and pay the fee.

They aren't upselling for the use of the IMAX, they are upselling for the costs of the movie licensing.

Movie theaters/Cinemas make NO money from ticket sales, it all goes to the movie companies. That's why concessions stands are so expensive because the theaters only make profit from concessions and programmes.

As such, we're paying at the IMAX for the ability to see hollywood movies! I'm definitely interested :)

Hello -

We're sailing Vista in August and in the midst of researching excursions. I understand many cruisers use private tour companies. However, is there a website/link that shows passenger reviews of Carnival's excursions from previous Breeze or Sunshine sailings? I assume some of the Vista excursions were offered for those ships. Also, it would be much appreciated if early Vista cruisers can write reviews if they book excursions through Carnival :) Thank you!

I always book my excursions with Carnival as I know that if we run late, the ship will wait and I also know that the shore excursions team have tested the excursions out and verify their quality.

I always book into the speciality restaurants while on board. Never been turned away

My question is this......Leaving on the Carnival Vista and Izmir Turkey port was canceled.......Embarking port is Barcelona....Debarking is Athens.....So with Turkey canceled there's No Non EU ports

 

If I Prepurchase Excursions will I still be hit with the VAT tax during the cruise for them?? Or is VAT more for just tangible items?

 

How about per drink prices? We're not buying the cheers pkg as we have the free drink cards in the casino but was reading about a additional 18-21% added per drink

 

I read even the Internet pkg can have VAT added.....Is this correct?

 

Need info from anyone that knows how this VAT works when there's no Non EU ports

 

Thanks for any help

VAT can only be added to things you buy IN Europe. As such, anything prepurchased can not have VAT added.

Just use the airport ATM. The only fee you will pay will be what your bank charges to use an out of network ATM plus up to 3% conversion fee. Check with your bank on their exact charges (BofA is at the full 3% and $5, your bank may be less). Other than that you will get the best exchange rate

Not always the case.

Here in Europe, a lot of cash machines (Or ATM's as you call them) are independant and charge a fee to use, usually between €2-3, It will always tell you on the front screen if there is a charge.

Try and use ATM's belonging to a bank.

Hello!

The third closet used to be mainly full of life jackets but now, the inside cabins have their life jackets under the bed.